Bits 'n' Pieces

City Bids on Amazon 2nd HQ

With excellent weather year-round, close proximity to the largest port complex in the nation, three airports, a multitude of transportation services, various housing options, diverse communities, an extraordinary amount of local talent, and three strategically located sites, Huntington Beach and Long Beach (HBLB) have highlighted all the key elements in making HBLB the home of Amazon HQ2 – “Amazon Coast: Portal to the World.” Packaged as a nod to the original beginnings of Amazon, the HBLB coffee table book-style proposal theme of Sand, Sea and Air creates a trifecta that provides stability, balance and strength.

Three prime sites have been identified by HBLB for the new Amazon headquarters: one in Huntington Beach – “Amazon Sand,” another site along the Long Beach waterfront – “Amazon Sea,” and a third site adjacent to the Long Beach Airport – “Amazon Air.” HBLB stands apart from other competing cities in that the “Amazon Sand” site is already entitled and move-in ready with more than 500,000 square feet of space.

The cities have joined together as both are close in proximity and well exceed the criteria for Amazon HQ2. HBLB offers virtually turnkey sites for phases one and two, a highly-educated work force, a business-friendly environment, a multitude of recreation activities and an unparalleled quality of life. With the help of our partners such as the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, Visit HB and the creative communication team at interTrend, “Amazon Coast” was born.

Check out the creative “Amazon Coast” video, featuring a surprise celebrity, in the quest to deliver the final proposal from HBLB to CEO Jeff Bezos. Cameo by HB’s hometown surfer, Brett Simpson. The video is available on Twitch.tv – a subsidiary of Amazon.com. Home to TwitchCon 2017, Long Beach is already poised to promote Amazon’s global brand. Video link: https://go.twitch.tv/videos/183135017.

Cutting-Edge HIFU Treatment

Los Alamitos Medical Center is adding the use of HIFU for prostate cancer treatment. HIFU, or high intensity focused ultrasound, targets sound waves to a specific point where the prostatic tissue is heated rapidly and ideally destroyed. Earlier this year, a Medicare code was issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that may help some patients cover part of the cost of the HIFU procedure.

“HIFU is an important addition to our hospital’s comprehensive program for treating all types of cancer. Now, men looking for a one-time, outpatient procedure can have the HIFU treatment at our hospital,” said Jeff Robey, chief strategy officer at Los Alamitos Medical Center.

Local urologist and HIFU expert, Robert Pugach, M.D. treated the first HIFU patient on Oct. 14 at Los Alamitos Medical Center. “The announcement by CMS that Medicare patients will have their facility fees covered is an important milestone,” said Pugach. “Medicare patients will now have a minimally-invasive HIFU procedure as an option for treatment. “

Dr. Pugach has been involved in nearly 500 HIFU treatments over the last 10 years. However, his experience with HIFU doesn’t stop with being a doctor, he also is a prostate cancer survivor. When he was diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer earlier this year, he chose to have the HIFU procedure himself in May 2017.

“When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, it was at a very early stage because I was proactive in having regular prostate cancer screening. The treatment choice was easy – I wanted HIFU to preserve my normal quality of life,” said Pugach. “That was the HIFU advantage for me – I could resume normal activities while minimizing side effects of other prostate cancer treatments.”

New Houghton Park Community Center

The City of Long Beach unveiled a rendering of the new Houghton Park Community Center. The new facility will be an addition to the existing community center that was built as a series of connected buildings in the 1930s and 1980s.

“After almost 100 years, Houghton Park is finally getting the community center it deserves,” said Vice Mayor Rex Richardson. “The building will set a new standard for design, complementing our new Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library and Fire Station 12, and will serve as a central gathering place for our community for many years to come.”

The new Community Center will:

• House two large multipurpose rooms and a central area for restrooms and reception.
• Include the addition of two park-facing public restrooms that will provide park goers with restroom access without having to go inside the building.
• Incorporate Electric Vehicle (EV) parking, school bus loading and unloading zones and additional bicycle parking to accommodate various transportation methods.

The new 6,450-square-foot building is made possible by a $4,000,000 fund from Measure A and $3,000,000 from FY 14 one-time funds. The building is expected to break ground in early 2018.